Tag Archives: hope

Here we are at a new day and a new year. We fall into a situation so many times where we regret the past or worry about tomorrow. I personally forget to live in the present and enjoy what God has given me today. Concerning the past, we can learn from our mistakes, concerning the future, we can prepare and learn to trust God. It’s sometimes really hard to accept where God has put us. He is God and knows all things. We don’t always know why certain things happen as they do. But God is in them right now, even if we don’t understand.

Sunrise near the Columbia River

Here is the attitude we need for the future from 1 Peter 5:7. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” So our attitude needs to be one of trusting God for the future.

Our attitude should be thanking God for what we have today and not wishing for things to be different: This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it Psalm 118:24. We should have a thankful heart as Paul talks about in 1 Thessalonians 5:8 In every thing give thanks:for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Live in the now, thanking God for what we have, what He has given us in people, friends, family, relationships, spiritual blessings and material stuff. (Yes, even thank God for our stuff)

Thank Him for negative and hard things that teach us to thank and trust Him.

Sunset on the Columbia River

Thank God for the grace given to us through His Son Jesus Christ who took all our sins away and made a way for us to come to God just as we are. John 1:17 Grace came by Jesus Christ.

A 16th century monk in writing to comfort his wife said “Pray, and let God worry”. That was Martin Luther who did much to bring people back to the Bible and back to Jesus Christ.

Paul shares his attitude towards the past in Phil 3:13. but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Deer in the trees

We can learn to accept moving or not moving. We can accept who we are in God. We can accept what God has given us in talents, friends, relationships, spiritual and material stuff. We can accept our social and financial level in society, and not wish to be somewhere else. We can accept our marriage as from God, there is not a better mate for us. God did that just right. He has given us exactly what we need.

When we don’t accept we can easily fall into regret for the past and then carry a root of bitterness going forward. Eventually this makes us get old really fast and makes our life (not the other person) miserable. Do not get bitter, it will destroy you.

So our attitude towards the past and future is important. When it comes to the past we should forgive and forget. Thanking God for all He has given us. When it comes to the future we trust God and refuse to worry or carry a grudge. This leaves us living right now in the present thanking God for who He is and all that He has done for us. For the past, we always learn from our mistakes, for the future, we prepare as best we can and trust God.

Here is a simple way to pray: “Father God, thank You for what we have, what You have given us and what You will yet provide in the years to come. I give this day to You, I trust You and rely on You for all that we need”.

The Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Unfortunately God’s people at that time were not happy with God or themselves. They had no faith in God that He could deliver them. So they doubted God, and only had “evil” thoughts about God, His plan and His purpose.

God still remembers His plan, purpose and promises towards the nation of Israel. God’s plan had not changed, but their thoughts about God did. So let’s remember God’s promises.

Look at God’s promise in this Bible verse in Deuteronomy 30:1 “And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, 2 and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.

Paul’s Prayer for the Church that the saints may see the hope of His calling

Ephesian 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling,

The big word here is “See the Hope”. There is a lot of hope in His calling, we just need a spirit of wisdom and revelation to see it. Revelation is something that has been covered up and now is revealed.

Even in Revelation 1:1 it says “The revelation of Jesus Christ..” so revelation is needed to see Christ. And here the Holy Spirit helps us to understand the Word of God.

1 Cor 2:9-10 9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed [them] to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

The Holy Spirit illuminates us so we can get supernatural information. Paul wants us to receive divine information and understanding by searching through the word of God and understanding the character of God.

Another powerful verse is Romans 8:16 The Spirit bears witness to our spirit that we are the children of God.

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This Christmas song is encouragement for those of us called to a special ministry like Joseph and Mary who brought forth Jesus. We are all called to express Jesus in a special way. Don’t fear, just follow God. God will do wonders. Title: Fear Fear Not Mary Fear…Fear not Mary You have favor with God […]